Signaling system.



M. LEVISON.

SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED-11H27, 1912.

Patented June 16, 1914.

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SIGNALING SYSTEM. l APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1912.

Patented June 16, 1914-.

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UNITED STATES IATENT OFFICE.`

i LEYISON, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO SIGNAL COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. d Patented June 16, 1914.

Application led )lay 27, 1912. Serial No. 699,856.

To-aZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mannion LnvisoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in signaling systems, and in some of its features it relates more particularly to call systems for hospitals and the like wherein the desideratum is the transmission of signal calls from separate signal-initiating stations, (such as the bedsides of various patients) to appropriate signal receivinglcenters .or stations, (such as the nurses quarters), and the automatic maintenance of suchl signals in set condition until .the attendant shall inanually release the'signal by anfop'eratien .performed at the transmitting'station, thereby to insure the -attendance of the nurse in re` spense to the c'all vbefore the signal may be erased. Y,

One olf-.the objects otE my inventionvis to provide.- .'=a''simple, effective, land' 'widely ada table'signali means for use'as above set orthoperable y alternating current,.as well asby -direct current-1 ll .ma T'. AiiotherA oh'ect oi my linventionis to provide improved .and simple signaling units for eiecting'the initiationv` andithe release ofthe signal calls..

Other and further obj ects ofmy invention will be ap arent to those skilled in the art with the fo lowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which; v I i Figure 1 is Sa diagrammatic illustration of asystem constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 isa side elevation of a signaling unit; Fig; 3 is a vertical section through vsaid unit; ig. 4 is a front elevation of a'wall plate such as may be conveniently employed'in some of the practices of my invention, with parts broken away.

Throughout the following specification, I will describe myv invention as applied to a hospital, and preliminarily it will, 'of course, be understood that-in ahospital the patients, whose' calls should be attended by the nurses, areV lodged either in private rooms or in wards, where there are1a=number of beds in-I a singleward room;y l Each nurse, of course, is assignecl to fa certamdlvision of the hospital and has somo station at: which she supposed to be accessible to call unless engaged elsewhereJ on the call of some patient. Usually there is also some central station, such as the superintendents oilice, the head nurses room, or the diet kitchen, where calls from all parts ofthe hospital should be in dicated, so that should the duties of any nurse prevent her from promptly answering a call someone in authority may take proper .steps to meet the emergency. It is therefore lmportant that each patient should be able to give asignal when the attendance of a nurse is desired and that such signal initiated by the patient should be displayed in a suiiicient number. of places to give a local indicationat thestation from which signal is sent, an .indication at thepoint (say the i end of the corridor) where the nurse is supiposedf to. be available to answer calls from that division ofthe hospital; and also an L indication at the supervisory center, such as fthe -superintendents roomor. the. diet lkitchen. Where the patients are located in private vrooms a signal at the door of the iroomsuices for the local indication,` but 4 where the patients are confined in wards it is important that not only the ward room should-be-.locallv indicated by a signal, at the door, but that the bed of the individual patient, additionally, should -be indicated by la localsi'gnal within the ward at the bed- .side. It is also important that all of the 'i signals-when set by the patient shall remain displayed until the call is answered, and to this end the mechanism for releasing the call should be located adjacent to the point of transmission of the call, but so as to be monly by attendance of the nurse in response to the call can the signal be erased, any y chance of the patient unintentionally releasing the signal being obviated. My invention supplies a system satisfying such requirements.

At each signal initiating station-(i. e., at the bedside of each *patienQ-I provide a signal initiating and releasing unit, one appropriate form of which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing.' To this end I provide a wall-plate l0 upon the rear of which is mounted an insulating base 1l which carries, through suitablescrews 12, a U shaped metal frame or yoke 13 with one leg 14 secured flush against the base 1l and the other ilegl spaced apart therefrom'. Upon'this accessiblev to the patient himselr` so that' ico frame, preferably upon the rear leg 0f the yoke I. arrange a series of spring contacts, shown as five in number and indicated as 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20. These contacts are insulated from each other. In the construetion shown the spring 16 is the active or dominating spring and is elongated beyond itself) the several springs 18, 19, and 20, and

breaks connection with the 4single spring 17. The spring 16 coperates with a push release-button 21 which is worked from a button-head 22 extending through the front of the wall-plate 10. The barrel 23 of the push button, which is preferably of brass, hasan annular latching shoulder 24, and from said barrel there extends rearwardly a stem 25 taking through an aperture in the rear leg 15 of the frame yoke to coperate with the spring 16.

Within vthe yoke member 13 1s arranged the electro-magnet 27 having an armature 28, normally raised by the spring 29. When the push-button is pressed inward the armature 28 latches behind the shoulder 24 and holds the push-button in an innermost position, where its stem- 25 closes spring 16 against contact 17. When the electro-magnet is energized and the armature 28 is withdrawn from the path of shoulder 25 the dominant spring 16 forces the push-button Aforward and takes its natural position where it closes contact between itself and the several springs 18, 19, and 20.

In the wall-plate there is provided a bushed aperture 30 through which extends a flexible cord 31 terminating in an ordinary push-button 32 which may be led from the wall-plate to the bed of the patient and which constitutes the signal initiating switch. Suitable terminals for the connection of the wiring with the unit may be employed, but the mechanical details of such connection are unimportant and the electrica l arrangement of the connections will be described in connection with diagrammatic view. y v

Where there is to be a bed lamp signal employed, as in installations in ward rooms, the wall-plate 11 may be made of double length, one half thereof having mounted thereon the switch and the mechanism heretofore described and the other half of the plate affording support to a suitably constructed lamp base 35 the terminals ,whereof are connected directly with appropriate terminals of the switch, the base supportl/Vhen pressed rearwardly the l individual bed lamp,

rior circuits of the hospital a proper voltage of, say, 12 volts. The positive and negative Wires or mains 42 and 43 are run throughout the hospital `with as many parallel branches as may be necessary so as to-extend from points convenient to every signal Areceiving station to otherjpoints convenient to every signal initiating station.

At each signal initiating station one terminal of the signal initiating switch 32 1s connected by wire 44 to wire 42, and its other terminal is connected by wire 54 to the corresponding magnet 27 which is in turn connectedby wire 46 with switch spring contact 17, the contact 16 being connected luy wire 48 to the remaining line wire 43. The switch 16-17 and the pendant switch 32 jointly control the signal initiating circuit 42, 44, 32, 45, 27, 46, 17, 16, 48, 43. The` energization of the magnet 27 in response to closure of signal initiating circuit at switch 32 causes the release of the push-but` ton to take place so that the spring 16 may open the signal initiating circuit at contact 17 and close the signaling circuits. The switches in the signaling circuit should include a contact for connection with each lamp or lamps individual to that particular transmission station, and for each lamp or lamps which are to be controlled in common from a group of signal initiating stations. Thus where, as in the private room installation shown at the top of Fig. 1 only one individual lamp and one group of common lamps are to. be controlled by each signaling unit only the switch springs 16, 17, 18, and 20 need be employed, the remaining switch member 19 being left idle or eliminated, while in ward work, as shown in Fig. 1 Where each signal initiator controls an a local ward room lamp common to all the stations of the ward, and pilot lamps at the signal receiving stations the several contacts 16, 18, 19, and 20 are all employed. v

Each individual lamp which is located at or adjacent to the transmitting station,- say for instance the door lamp 50 at each of private rooms 1 to 4-has one terminal connected by wire 51 with the spring 18 andthe other terminal connected by wire 52 with the main 42. The bed lamp, where used, as shown at 50fi in Wards 5 and 6 has similar connection 512t and 52 running respectively to the spring 18 and the wire 42. In each Ward, since all ofA the units in the Ward should control a common Ward door lamp 50h, all of the springs 19 of the several units in the ward are connected in multiple by Wire 53 to which one terminal of the lamp 5()b is connected by Wire 54, the other terminal of the lamp being connected by wire 55 with the main wire 42.

For as many rooms or wards as may be desired in any particular installation a co1nmon pilot lamp at a receiving station is provided, the installation shown indicating a division of the hospital into two sections of private rooms and one section of wards,

there being a pilot lamp identified as a hall pilot Ylocated at the end of the hall or other point conveninet in access to the nurse in charge of that division or section of the hospital. Thus hall pilot 60 for private rooms l and 2 has one terminal connected by wire 61 to the main Wire 42, and the remainingfterminal connected to a Wire 62 which extends to all of the signal initiating stations served by that hall pilotlamp, the remaining contact 20 of each signaling unit being connected by a wire 63 to said wire 62. The hall pilot lamp 60 for the group of rooms indicated as 3 and 4 has similar connection by wires 61 62 and 63.

Likewise all of the signaling imits of wards 5 and 6 have similar connection with the hall pilot 60. Each of the lamps (30, 60', 60 has a parallel extension, 70, 70, 70 respectively run to a common pilot cabinet located athsome central point such as the superintendents room or the diet kitchen or the nurses rest room Where signals, if not attended to as a result of the display of the hall pilot, may receive attention. y

Where it is desired that the signals transmitted to the central station for the nurse shall identify the particular division of the hospital, each door lamp, (as shown in connection with rooms 3 and 4), may be supplemented by a lamp 50 located in a nurses cabinet and connected by Wire 51 and 52 in parallel with the corresponding door lamp 50. This arrangement gives the` iuurse a complete indication at her own statioirof the particular initiating station from which the call comes, should any lamps 50 fail. the pilot 60 and door lamps 50 give the location.

In the operation of applicants system as shown in Fig. 1 when any patient closes his pendant push-button switch 32 he establishes for the electro-magnct 27 of his calling unit a call initiating circuit from main 42 (by the path 44, 32, 45, 27, 46, 17, 16,48), to main 43 to energize the magnet 2T which thereupon reti-acts its armature unlatching the release push-button 22 which is thrown forward by the action of spring 1 6. Assuming that it isa unit in room l which is so operated: Obviously the closure of switch contacts 16, 18, and 20,`and the coincident openin of contacts 16' and 17, result in the imme iate rupture of the call initiating circuit and the establishing of the signaling circuits.. It will be noted that only a momentary impulse. in the magnet 27 is necessary to the be readily operated upon the alternating current from a transformer, as shown. The closure of the -switch leaves 16, 18, and 20, in the particular arrangement shown, results in the establishment of parallel signaling circuit, 42, 52, 50, 51, 18, 16, 48, 43, for the door lamp 50 and 42, 61, 60, 62, 63, 20, 18, 16, 48, 43, for the hall pilot lamp 60 which has a parallel extension at the general pilot cabinet.

In the arrangement shown in connection with rooms 3 and 4 the circuits above described are duplicated with the addition of the circuit 42, 52,50',51,51,18,16,48,43,for

arrangement shown at the bottom of Fig. 1 the operation of an initiating signal device in ward 5 will cause the establishment of circuits like those heretofore described for the bed lamp 50, hall pilot 60 and general pilot 70, and further the ward door lamp 50h, serving all of the signal initiate-rs in that Ward will be energized through the circuit 42', 55, 50h, 54, 53, 19, 18, 16, 4.8, 43.

lt will be observed that each lamp is independent in operation of any of the other lamps so that the burningr out of any one lamp does not affect the operation of the others. It will further be observed that the entire system may be cheaply installed as each unit is simple, compact and complete in itself, and the power apparatus described for the use of the ordinary alternating current is only a simple step down transformer.

, lVhile l have herein described to some detail the specific embodiment of my invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, numerous changes might be made in the mechanical construction and electrical connections Without departure from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

That l claim is:

1. ln a signaling system of the character described, wiring mains extending adjacent to a central signal receiving station and to separate signal transmitting stations, current supphy means connected therewith, a signal initiating circuit local-to one of said signal transmitting stations including a signal initiating manually operable switch, a relay magnet. and a normally closed switch associated with the n'xagnet; a signaling circuit local to the said .signal transmitting stax tion including a normally open switch assoi ciated witlrthe magnet, a signaling circuit performance of its functions, so that it can` the nurses cabinet lamp 50. In the Ward extending romthe said signal transmitting station to the signal receiving station including a normally open switch associated with the magnet; and means responsive to the energization of the magnet to open said normally closed switch and close the normally open switches which are associated with the magnet, said means being manually movable to signal'releasing position.

2. In a signaling system of the character described, wiring mains extending from a signal receiving station to separated transmitting stations, a source of alternating current supply therefor; a si al initiating circuit local to each transmittlng station including a signal initiating hand switch, a relay magnet, and a normally closed switch associated with the magnet; a signaling ciri cuit local to each signal transmitting station including a normally open switch associated with themagnet; a signaling circuit extending from the signal receiving station to a plurality of signal transmitting stations and at each of said signal transmitting stations having, in multiple arrangement,a normally open switch associated withthe magnet at said transmitting station, and means automatically responsive to the energization ot the magnet at any transmitting station to open the normally closed switch and close the normally open switches which are associated with said magnet, said means being manually movable to signal releasing position.

3. In a signaling system of the character described, wlring mains extending from adjacent a signal receiving point to separated signal transmitting stations, a source of current supply therefor, a signal initiating circuit local to each signal transmitting station including a signal initiating hand switch, a

relay magnet and a normally closed switch, a signaling circuit local to each signal transmitting station including a normally open switch associated with the magnet, a signaling circuit extending from each signal transmitting station to the signal receiving station including a normally open switch associated with the magnet, a switch actuating means manually movable to one position to close said normally closed switch and open the normally open switches associated with said magnet, a 'magnet armature latching such means in said position when the magnet is denergized, and releasing said means for automatic movement, when the magnet is energized, to permit closure of the normally open switches and opening of the normally closed switch. I

4. In a signaling system of the character described', wiring mains extending from adjacent a central receiving point to separate signal transmitting stations, asignal initiating circuit local to each transmitting station including a signal initiating hand switch and a relay magnet, a signaling circuit extending from each signal transmit`4 ting station tothe signal receiving station including a normally open switch associated with said magnet, a push-button manually movable in the direction to open said switch and automatically movable to close said switch, and means, normally latching said push-button in the rst said position responsive to energization of the magnet to release said push-button for its automatic movement.

5. ,In a signaling system of the character described, the combination of a signal controlling unit comprising a base, amagnet mounted on said base, a part manually movable in one direction on the said base and automatically movable in the other. direction, means controlled by and responsive to the magnet for latching that manually movable part at the end of its manual movement, a switch closed by said manually movable means at the end of its manual movement, a switch opened by said means at said end of its movement, a signal initiating switch connected with the magnet, a signal initiatingcircuit including the last said switch, the switch closed by the manually movable means and the electro-magnet, and a signal circuit including a signal device and the switch opened by the manual movement of said manually movable means.

G. In a signaling system of the character described, wiring mains extending from adjacent a central receiving station to separated signal transmitting stations, a signal individual to and serving each signal trans mitting station, a plurality of signals each serving a pre-determined group of said signal transmitting stations and` a central sig'- nal serving a plurality of said groups of signal transmitting stations; at each signal transmitting station a local signal initiating circuit including a signal initiating hand switch and a relay magnet; a signalmg circuit for each signal serving an individual station, such circuit including the individual signal and a switch associated with the magnet of the station; a signaling circuit for each signal serving a pre-determined group, said signaling circuit including the signal for said group and a plurality of multiple switches one associated with the magnet of each signal transmitting station of the group; a signaling circuit for the central signal common to a plurality of groups, said -circuit including said signal device and a plurality of mult-iple switches one associated y with the magnet of each signal transmittin station served by said central signal, an means automatically to close said signal circuit switches for each signal transmitting station responsive to energization of the magnet of said station;

7. In a 'signaling system of the character described, the combination of transmitting station apparatus vcomprising a signal-initiating, manually operable switch; a rela magnet; normally open multipleswitc means associated with said magnet; and means responsive to the magnet to close said switch means and manually movable to switch-opening position; signal lamps at the signal transmitting station and at a remote receiving station respectively; a common source of electrical power; circuit connections from said source of power including the manual .signal initiating switch and the magnet; and other circuit connections from said source of power to the lamps, connecting all lamps in multiple relation to each other, the power supplying circuit connection for each lamp including suitable of the switch elements of thel magnet-controlled multiple-switch means, whereby the energization of any lamp is independent of the condition of every other lamp.

8. In a signaling system of the character described, the combination of a signal controlling unit comprising a face plate, amagnet mounted thereon, an armature for sald magnet, a switch associated with said magnet, a push-button spring-protruded throu h said face plate, manually movable from t e front of said plate to rearward latching position, said push button coperating with said switch to open it in said latching position, and coperating also with the armature of the magnet to be latched in said position when the armature is detracted, and to be freed for spring protrusion when the armature is attracted; a signal initiating switch connected with the magnet; a signal initiating circuit including the last said switch and the electromagnet; a signal device; and a signal circuit including said signal device and the first said switch.

9. A hospital signaling system comprising, in combination, a common source of current supply; wiring mains extending therefrom adjacent to a central signal receiving station and to separate signal transmitting stations; at each signal transmitting station a magnet, a normally opened signal initiating switch, electrical connections between the mains for that station and said magnet, including said signal initiating switch, a local signal arranged for operation in response to energization of said magnet, a magnet controlled switch arranged to close in response to energization of said magnet, and manual means for opening said switch; and at a signal receiving station a signal lamp and connections therefor extending between the wiring mains for the central receiving station and including in parallel the magnet controlled switches for a plurality of said signal initiating stations.

10. In a system of the character described,

the combination of a signal controlling unit comprising a base, a magnet carriedby said base, a push-button mounted to reciprocate transversely to the magnet core, an armature for said magnet coperating with the pushbutton to latch the same at one extreme of its movement when the armature is retracted, switch means, opened by said push-button when the latter is in latched position, acting to project said push-button forward and close their own connections when the armature is attracted to unlatch the pushbutton, a signal initiating switch, circuit connections for said signal initiating switch and magnet, an electro-responsive signal device, and circuit connections including said electro-responsive signal device and the said switch which cooperates with the magnetcontrolled push-button.

11. In an electric signaling system a signal controlling unit comprising a housing, a U-shaped frame mounted on and insulated from one wall of the housing, a magnet ar ranged within said frame, a push-button mounted in and guided by said frame, an armature for said magnet coperating with said push-button to latch the same in one extreme of its movement, switch means carried by said frame coperating with said push-button to be opened and closed thereby according to the position assumed by the push-button, a signal initiating switch connected with said magnet, and signaling means connected with and controlled by the switch means which coperates with the push-button.

12. In a system of the character described the combination of a signal controlling unit comprising a base late, a magnet carried by said plate, a pus button mounted to reciprocate through said plate, an armature for said magnet coperating with the push button to latch the same at the rearward extreme of its movement when the armature is retracted, switch means, opened by said push button when the latter is in latched position, acting on said push button to project it forward and to close the switch connections when the armature is attracted to unlatch the push button; a signal initiating switch, circuit connections for said signal initiating switch and magnet, a plurality of electro-responsive signal devices, and circuit connections including said electro-responsive signal devices in parallel with each other and controlled by the rst said switch means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

MAURICE LEVISON.

In the presence of- MARY F. ALLEN, W. LINN ALLEN. 

